Schar & Fernandez form means losing Lascelles wouldn’t relegate Newcastle

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Jamaal Lascelles only signed a new contract with Newcastle United at the start of the month but there can’t be many fans who could say with any certainty that they truly believe that will definitely keep him at the club beyond the mid-season transfer window.

Lascelles is a leader who is always going to attract interest from higher up the Premier League and there was a time when it looked like Newcastle would be pretty much nailed on for relegation if he was to leave the club.

But the form of Fabian Schar and Federico Fernandez in recent games means that losing Lascelles is no longer the absolutely nightmare scenario that it might once have been.

The duo formed the bedrock of the weekend win over Bournemouth and Argentine Fernandez has been particularly impressive in recent games.

That’s not to say that Rafa Benitez should actively look to sell Lascelles this January, but the Spaniard at least knows he has a pair of centre-halves he can rely on if Mike Ashley does flog his captain from under his nose.

Perhaps the skipper could form part of a back three with Schar and Fernandez for certain matches, which would provide Benitez with the sturdy foundation he always demands.

In any case, losing Lascelles in January now need not necessarily extinguish Newcastle’s hopes of survival.